"a tough act to follow". Truer words couldn’t be spoken when comparing the new second generation Audi TT to the first. The original TT was a design icon and quickly built up a strong cult following, especially in the UK where TT-based online forums and aftermarket specialty parts shops quickly sprang up following the car’s launch in 1999. The States were quick to follow and Audi registered strong sales in the initial years the TT was offered. No matter what Audi did with the second generation TT it was bound to be met with some skepticism from the first generation crowd.
In our first encounter with the new TT, we had the opportunity to drive a Coupe fitted with the 2.0T engine and S-tronic, Audi’s new title for the widely praised DSG gearbox. This time around, it was a Roadster fitted with the 3.2l and a 6 speed manual transmission - a first for the TT and optimal for performance if not the wallet. While the first TT received the 3.2 later on in life, the motor was never paired with a manual transmission. For the new TT, the tables are reversed. The 2.0T initially gets S-Tronic only and the 3.2’s benefits from a choice of either the S-tronic or 6 speed manual.
2008 Detroit Auto Show Photo Gallery
2008 San Diego Auto Show Photo Gallery
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